Automatically closed fire proof louvers



Oct. 4, 1960 E. L. SMITH 2,954,728

AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED FIRE PROOF, LOUVERS Filed May 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

Eugene L. Smirh ATTORNEY Oct. 4, 1960 E. L. SMITH 2,954,728

AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED FIRE PROOF LOUVERS Filed May 28, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG.4

INVENTOR.

Eugene L. Smirn AUTQMATICALLY CLOSED FIRE PROOF LOUVERS Eugene L. Smith, Long Beach, NY.

Filed May 23, 1959, S61. No. 816,426

12 Claims. (Cl. 98-110) This invention relates to automatically operated louvers and, more particularly, to a fire proof louver construction including novel means for not only closing the louvers automatically responsive to elevated temperatures characteristic of the presence of flame or hot gases, but also for locking the louvers in the closed position until the temperature rise responsive means is manually re-set.

Louvers of the type to which the present invention is directed generally comprise a frame defining a substantially rectangular ventilating opening in a door, window, wall or the like. The louver blades are pivoted in the frame for movement between open and closed positions. In the partially or fully open positions of the blades, air may flow between the surfaces of adjacent blades but, in the closed position of the louver, the blades substantially overlap each other blocking any air or gas flow through the louver.

The louver blades are interconnected to each other, andto an operator, by suitable links, so that all the blades may be adjusted or operated in unison by movement of the operator, which is usually a lever or a knob.

Louvers of this type are sometimes used with automatic temperature responsive controls. The automatic operating means usually includes some means, such as a fusible link or plug, which melts or breaks when heated and activates means for automatically closing the blades. For example, the fusible link may suspend a weight or tension a spring so that, when the link breaks or fuses, the weight drops or the spring is released.

However, known louvers of this type may be manually re-opened after automatic closure without re-setting of the temperature responsive mechanism. This is a disadvantage as it leaves the louver unprepared for automatic operation responsive to another or subsequent emergency, and hence the louver is no longer w adequate safeguard against fire and, being open, may even facilitate spreading of the fire.

It has been found further that a single set of louver blades, such as in the practice with prior art constructions, does not provide adequate protection against fire or hot gases even when the louver blades are thus automatically closed. This failure to provide effecitve fire protection is enhanced by the fact that the metal blades are exposed to the action of the hot gases and may themselves melt or fuse.

In accordance with the present invention, an automatic louver closing mechanism is provided of such nature that the louvers, when once automatically closed, cannot be reopened until the automatic mechanism has been reset for another operation.

As a further feature, two sets of blades are preferably provided, one set at each edge or face of the frame, and the individual louver blades are lined with asbestos. This arrangement of two sets of louver blades provides for adequate fire protection, and such protection is enhanced by the asbestos lining on the blade of both sets. While the blades of both sets may have pivot axes horizontally aligned with each other, it is preferred that 2,954,728 Patented Oct. 4, 1960 the two sets be offset vertically of each other, thereby preventing direct vision through the louver or the direct passage of light therethrough.

More specifically, a lever or, in the case of two sets of louver blades, a pair of levers, are pivoted to move with the louver blades. In the open position of the louver blades, the lever extends inwardly and upwardly or, in the case of two levers, upwardly in converging relation to each other. I

The automatic operating mechanism includes a triangle shaped head or missile normally biased, by a spring or weight, to move upwardly to engage the levers and swing them outwardly to close the louver blades. This head or cam or missile is restrained against such upward movement by a fusible link. When the link is fused or breaks, the missile travels upwardly and its loping sides cam the levers outwardly to close the interconnected louver blades.

In further accordance with the invention, the sloping sides are formed with downwardly directed shoulders or notches. As the missile moves upwardly, the free ends of the levers engage behind these shoulders or in the notches and are thus restrained from movement in a louver blade closing direction until the head or missile has been released from the levers, drawn down to its normal position, and anchored by a new fusible link.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of typical embodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a preferred louver arrangement to which the invention is applicable;

Fig. 2 is a developed elevational view of the louver illustrating the fusible link mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation view illustrating the action of the missile or head of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a further modification;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating a louver arrangement in which the pivot axes of the blades are in horizontal alignment; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to illustrating the fusible link mechanism of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 as applied to the arrangement of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the invention is illustrated as embodied in a louver assembly 10 comprising a generally rectangular metallic frame including upper and lower horizontal and outwardly facing channel members 11, 12 and vertical, outwardly facing channel members 13, 14.

Louver blades 15A and 15B are pivoted to side members 13 and 14, each blade having an offset free end 16 to overlap the next adjacent blade when the blades are closed, as shown by the dotted outline in Fig. 1, with the outer surfaces of the blades of each set being flush with each other. Also, each blade has a tongue 17 pivotally connected to a link 18A or 18B so that the blades of each set may be operated as a unit.

The upper blades of each set engages the flanges 21A or 21B of a channel member 20 set back to back with frame member 11, and a channel member 22 has flanges 235A. and 23B overlapping the hinge ends of the lowest blades 15A, 15B, respectively. It will be noted that blades 15B are offset upwardly relative to blades 15A so that direct passage of light through the louver assembly, or direct vision therethrough, is obstructed when the louver blades are open.

The links 18A and 18B are suitably guided for vertical reciprocation, and an operating knob, plate or handle 25 3 is rigidlyconnectedto both links. Thus, when handle 25 is raised, both sets of blades are opened, and the blades of both sets are closed by moving handle 25 downwardly.

In accordance with the invention, a pair of levers 30A, 30Bare fixed to thepivot shafts of the lowermost louvers 15A, 1513, respectively, and have bevelledinner ends 31. In the. open position of'thelouvers, these levers extend upwardly and inwardly. toward each other and, as the. louvers are opened; the levers swing upwardly and outwardly; ILever'30B issomewhat longer than lever 30A so thatitsifre'e end 31' is at the same level as the free end 31' of lever 30A, This compensates for the ofiset' relation of the pivot axes. of blades 15A and 15B.

The automaticmeans. foricl'osing the louvers' responsive to high't'emperatures comprises a. missile, head, or cam 35 mounted on a guide box or plate slidable upwardly along-the outer surface'offrame member 13. Missile 35 is' generally triangular'in shape and its opposite sides are formed with wedge shape projections 36.. As missile 35 moves upwardly; it spreads levers 30A, 30B to move the louver blades" to the closed position. Re-opening of the blades is prevented by engagement of lever ends 31 beneath projections 36 which not only prevents movement of the levers" towardeach other but also wedges missile 35 against downward movement.

Missile 35, in the embodiment ofFigs; l and 2, is biased upwardly by a cordor cable 33 secured to the apex of the cam, head, or missileand trained over pulleys 34 to' run longitudinally" of frame members 13, 1'1 and 14'; The opposite end of cord 33"issecured to a spring 37: having its opposite end secured under tension to the bottom edge of member 14'.

Missile 356s restrained against upward movement by a fusible link 40 connected between the base of head 35 and the lower end of member 13, and designed to fuse at a pre-set elevated temperature; When link 40' fuses, spring 37, through cable 33, pulls head 35 upwardly to engage and spread levers3tlA, 30B to close the louver blades 15A, 15B which are linedwithasbestos. Should cable 33 later burn through, head or missile 35' is retained in the elevated louver closing position by ends 31 of the levers engaging beneath projections 36'.

The apparatus may be manually re-set by lifting head 35 to disengage levers 30A, 30B, swing the leversoutwardly, pulling down the head, and reconnecting a new rfusible link between-the base of head or missile 35- and a fixed point on member Heat reaches the fusible link through a slot 38 in member 13 and apertures 26, 27 are provided in members 20 and 22, respectively, for how of air into the enclosure between the-louvers and escape of hot gases from such enclosure, which otherwise would accumulate therein when the shutters are automatically closed.

In the embodiment of Fig. 4; missile 35' is biased upwardl y by a compressed spring 45 engaging its base, and is restrained by a fusible link 46 secured between an upper corner of box 32 and a fixed point on member 13.

Other than this variation in the missile biasing and restrai-ning means, the assembly is the same as described. The embodiment ofFi'g. 5 is also the same as described exceptfor the missile biasing and restraining means. In

this case, missile 35 and 'box fiz" are again biased upwardly by acompression spring 45', and are restrained by a fusible'lihk'All" secured to' a fixed point on member 13 and to a cable or cord 46 trainedover box 32 and connected to a tension spring 37' secured to member 13.

The-louver arrangement shown in Figs. 6 and 7 differs from that shown in Figs. 1 and 3 only in that the; pivot axes of the two sets of blades are horizontally aligned with each other rather than being offset or staggered as' shown in Figs. 1 and13'. In this case, the levers 30A and 30B are identical in length, shape and orientation, and have their pivot points horizontally aligned- Also, the upper member 20 and thelower member. 22 have flanges 21A and 21B, and 22A and.

4; 22B, which are substantially equal in height at each edge of the members.

The automatic louver assembly may be used in a door or wall, as desired. It can only be reopened, after automatic closure, by re-setting the head 35 and connecting it to a fusible link.

vfliile specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the invention principles, it will. be-understood that the invention may be embodiedotherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatically.closed:louver assembly comprising, in combination, a louver frame; ,at least one set of louver blades pivoted in said frame and movable in unison between an open position providing for air flow through said frame and a closed position in which the blades block air flow through said frame; manualmeans selectively operable to adjust. said blades between said positions; a lever pivoted on said frame to move with said' blades; a Wedge shape head movable along said frame in a forward direction, with its tapered edge leading, toward said lever; said lever, in the open position of said. blades; having its free. end in. the path, of. movement of said head, and said. head, in such forwardmovement, engaging the free end of said. lever and pivoting the, latter, to move said bladesv to the closed position; interengageable. means on said headand lever obstructing reverse movement of said. head and movement. of-Qsaid lever in. a blade. opening, direction; means biasing said headv tov move in such forward direction; and means restraining said head against forward movement. and operable, upon the ambient temperature reaching a pre-set value, to release said head for forward movement thereof by said biasing means.

2. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 1 in which said interengageable means comprises rearwardly facing projections on. the lever engaging. surface of said head engaged by the free end of said lever upon reverse movement of said head.

3. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 1 inwhich said last-named-means.comprises a fusiblelink connected between said head and said frame.

.4. An automatically closed louver assembly comprising, in combination, a louver frame defining a substan- Y tially rectangular opening; two sets of louver blades;

pivoted in said frame andmovablein unison. between an open position. providing for air flow through said frame and a' closed position in which the blades overlap each other to block air flow through said frame, each set being at a different face of said frame; manual. means selectively operable to adjust said blades between said positions; a pair of levers pivoted on saidframe and each movable with one set of blades; a wedge shapev head movable along said frame in a forward direction, with its tapered edge leading, toward said levers; said. levers, in the open position of said blades, having their free ends extending toward each other and in the path of movement of said head, and said head, in such forward movement, engaging the free ends of said levers. and pivoting the latter to move said. blades to the closed position; interengageable means on said head andleversobstructing reverse movement of said head and movement of said levers in a blade opening direction; means biasing said head to move in such forward direction; and means restraining said'head against forward movement and operable, upon the ambient temperature reaching a pre-set value, to release said head for forward movement thereof by said biasing means.

5. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which said interengageable means comprises rearwardly facing projections on the lever engaging surfaces of said head engaged by the free ends of said levers upon reverse movement of said head.

6. A louver assembly as claimed. in claim 4 inwhich said last-named means comprises a fusible link connected between said head and said frame.

7. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which said fusible link is connected between said head and the lower end of a side member of said frame; and said biasing means comprises a cord trained over pulleys at the upper corners of said frame and having one end connected to the tapered end of said head and its other end connected by a spring under tension to the lower end of the other side member.

8. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 6 in which said head is mounted in a guide box movable along a side member of'said frame.

- 9. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 8 in which said fusible link is connected between said box and the lower end of said side member; and said biasing means comprises a compression spring urging said head upwardly along said side member.

10. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 8 in which said fusible link has one end connected to the lower end of said side member; a cable connected to the other end of said link and extending over the upper edge of said box; and a tension spring connecting the free end of said cable to the lower end of said side member; said biasing means comprises a compression spring urging said head upwardly along said side member.

11. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the pivot axes of the two sets of louver blades are offset vertically relative to each other.

12. A louver assembly as claimed in claim 4 in which the pivot axes of the two sets of blades are horizontally aligned With each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,428,882 Dyer Sept. 12, 192.2 1,871,161 Dickson Aug. 9, 1932 2,494,835 Rose Jan. 1, 1950 

